EP3733030A1 - Method for controlling a hot drink machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for controlling a hot beverage machine (1), comprising the steps: - selection of a hot beverage type (H), - preparation of a hot beverage based on this selection, which during a current preparation step (Z1) is determined based on the selection the subsequent preparation step (Z2) will be and the current preparation step (Z1) will end with a transition procedure (P) that is determined based on the subsequent preparation step (Z2). The invention also relates to a corresponding hot beverage machine.

Description

The invention relates to a method for controlling a hot beverage machine, and a hot beverage machine controlled in this way. The invention relates in particular to a coffee machine. This invention is preferably used to improve hot beverage machines with a continuous flow heater.

The DE 10 2013 212 349 A1 describes a fully automatic coffee machine with an electronic memory device in which brewing programs with brewing program-specific parameters and system settings with system-specific parameters are stored, and with an input device for selecting or selecting a brewing program, a brewing program-specific parameter, a system setting and a system-specific parameter, which is characterized by this that through the selection of a certain system-specific parameter in a system setting, at least one brewing program assigned to this parameter or at least one set of brewing programs assigned to this parameter is accessed.

The disadvantage of the prior art is that the hot beverage machine is in an undefined state at the beginning of a brewing process, but sometimes also between partial processes.

The invention is based on the object of specifying an improved method and an improved hot beverage machine and, in particular, to achieve clearly defined states between preparation processes or between sub-processes in beverage preparation.

The invention solves this problem by means of the subjects of the independent claims. The subclaims reproduce preferred embodiments.

Known hot beverage machines previously had no way of clearly defining the current system status between partial processes of a preparation. For example, until now, after each process step, either cooling was carried out or nothing was done at all. The processes were terminated in an undefined state. When cooling after the processes, the energy must sometimes be supplied again in a subsequent process, what costs energy and time. In the systems in which nothing was done, the "not cooling" resulted in the residual energy in the heating evaporating the existing water after the process had ended. For the next process, depending on the length of time until the next preparation, there were undefined initial situations in the entire fluid system, which was reflected in fluctuations in the amount of beverage dispensed, the cup temperature and the beverage quality. In addition, undefined initial situations pose a risk to the safety and service life of all modules of a hot beverage machine.

The method according to the invention is used to control a hot drinks machine. The invention is directed to hot beverage machines (in particular coffee machines) which comprise a heating element for heating water, in particular a flow heater. The invention is particularly preferably directed to a fully automatic coffee machine with a grinder so that a selected coffee beverage can be prepared from freshly ground coffee powder.

The procedure consists of the following steps:

- Selection of a hot drink

In this case, a user selects a type of drink from a large number of different types of hot drinks offered by the hot drinks machine in a manner known per se. A preferred example is a fully automatic coffee machine. "Hot beverage type" is understood to mean a type of hot beverage (e.g. broth, coffee, tea) which differs from other beverages on the basis of at least one parameter. Difference parameters are not limited to the type of drink alone, with coffee e.g. "Espresso", "Cappuccino", "Café Crema", but can also be based on the size of the beverage (small, medium-sized) or other parameters such as the beverage strength, temperature, or the proportion of other components such as Milk or sweetener-related.

- Preparation of a hot drink based on this selection

A preparation is basically known. According to the invention, before or during a current preparation step, it is determined on the basis of the selection which the subsequent preparation step will be. The current preparation step is then indicated with a Transition procedure completed, which is determined based on the subsequent preparation step.

A preparation step represents a section of a preparation. For example, a preparation step can include pre-brewing, main brewing, preheating of liquids, a grinding process for the production of coffee powder, filling of a powder for the preparation of drinks into a brewing unit, cleaning or emptying of elements of the hot drinks machine or preparation as well as the completion of a preparation.

The terms "current" and "following" serve to distinguish between two preparation steps that follow one another directly in time. The current preparation step is always the first in terms of time and the subsequent preparation step is always the second preparation step in terms of time, which directly follows the current preparation step, whereby according to the invention a waiting time can also be viewed as a preparation step.

With the transition procedures, which can also be referred to as "end options", since they complete a preparation step, different ends of preparation steps can be defined and, with an appropriate choice of the transition procedure, the time between two preparation steps can also be optimally used. In this regard, it is preferred that the transition procedures are such that they offer optimal starting conditions for the subsequent preparation step. For this purpose, it should be determined which parameter values must be available at the beginning of the subsequent preparation step and the transition procedure should be selected or adapted in such a way that it transfers the final state of the current preparation step into the start requirements of the subsequent preparation step. For example, at the end of a current preparation step with a first temperature in a subsequent preparation step that requires a second temperature, the transition procedure should be designed in such a way that the temperature is controlled in such a way that, starting from the first temperature, the second temperature is reached by heating or cooling becomes.

The insertion of stabilizing transitions between processes or sub-processes contribute to optimizing the time and quality of coffee preparation.

According to a preferred embodiment, the transition procedure comprises a number of method steps for controlling the hot drinks machine. Such a process step can e.g. represent switching on a heating element with a certain power for a certain time for a temperature change. Since the components of a hot drinks machine can be addressed via parameters, the method steps preferably relate to changes in parameters by assigning parameter values. For example, a parameter in the previous example would be the heating power to which a specific parameter value is assigned for a specific time. The parameter values of these parameters, or the process steps, can be predetermined, e.g. They can also be calculated dynamically based on the subsequent preparation step and / or based on measured values from sensors of the hot beverage machine. For example, the parameter can represent a heating power for heating from a first temperature to a second temperature, the first temperature being determined by the currently measured temperature, the second temperature being represented by the starting temperature of the subsequent preparation step and the heating power being calculated therefrom. A parameter of the transition procedure thus preferably relates to a parameter which causes a change in the hot beverage machine and is preferably calculated from start parameter values of the subsequent preparation step and from intended end parameters of the current preparation step or from corresponding measured values.

It is preferred that the transition procedure is selected from a number of transition procedures with predetermined sequences of changes in parameter values, a predetermined set of transition procedures preferably being provided for a preparation step. Such transition procedures preferably include a predetermined sequence with a fixed sequence of changes to parameter values, with these parameter values being able to be predetermined as described above and / or being able to be determined dynamically. This embodiment relates above all to more complex processes than the example described above, in which only the temperature has been changed. These transition procedures include a more complex sequence that includes, for example, not only a change in temperature, but also pumping liquid, preparing beverage powder or cleaning components. It What is meant here is that the relative order of the steps within a transition procedure is preferably fixed, but the parameter values of the parameters of the individual steps, and in particular also the application times, can preferably be dynamically adapted.

According to a preferred embodiment, a transition procedure comprises parameters of the group temperature (e.g. target temperature for heating or cooling), power of a heating element, power of a pump (e.g. for the flow during cooling), delivery volume of a liquid (e.g. of cooling water), valve positions, position of a mechanical switching element, control of movement elements, time for the heating element to be switched off prematurely ("heater early-off time") and measured value requests from sensors.

The "Heater-Early-Off-Time" relates to the case that the heating is switched off prematurely during the main part of the beverage preparation, i.e. while the hot beverage is being drawn off, in order to use the residual energy stored in the area of the heating element and the supply lines and the hot beverage machine to prepare for the end of the preparation. For a coffee machine, for example, this can be applied to the dispensing of coffee as well as hot water or steam. Depending on the size and the resulting length of the hot beverage, more and more energy is stored in the area of the heating element and the supply lines. In a preferred transition procedure, the heater early-off time is preferably shorter for shorter preparation times (e.g. smaller drinks) than for longer (e.g. larger drinks). It is particularly preferred that at a higher temperature in the subsequent preparation step as part of the transition procedure, the heater early-off time is dimensioned smaller in order to take less heat energy from the system.

According to a preferred embodiment, transition procedures are available for successive preparation steps. The preparation steps can represent, for example, different brewing steps, a brewing step followed by hot water or steam preparation, hot water or steam preparation followed by a brewing step or the completion of a preparation.

According to a preferred embodiment, a transition procedure comprises parameter values for controlling a mechanical switching element. The mechanical switching element can e.g. be a ram, in particular a gear, with which electrical switches are operated or valve positions are controlled and, if necessary, the movement of a brewing unit. An alternative mechanical switching element can be a slide, through the movement of which switching processes are carried out. The mechanical switching element is controlled accordingly by specifying the transition procedure for performing mechanical and / or electrical switching operations in the hot beverage machine. This embodiment has the advantage that the transition procedure can avoid a state in which the mechanical switching element is brought too early into a state in which it can only be moved in a single direction. The invention makes a particularly advantageous contribution to the service life of a mechanical switching element in which such an “irreversible” state can occur. Such a mechanical switching element can be moved in both directions up to a certain position and only in one direction from this position. A transition procedure is preferably designed in such a way that it ensures that such a mechanical switching element is not too early, e.g. is moved into a non-traceable state as part of a movement during a transition phase. With a corresponding selection and design of the transition procedure, the invention preferably achieves that switching cycles of the mechanical switching element are saved. This increases the service life not only of the mechanical switching element, but also of other components such as e.g. Valves or switches.

• Eine Auswahleinheit ausgelegt zur benutzerseitigen Auswahl und Angabe eines Heißgetränketyps.
• Eine Ermittlungseinheit, die dazu ausgelegt ist, vor oder während eines aktuellen Zubereitungsschritts basierend auf der Auswahl zu ermitteln, welches der nachfolgende Zubereitungsschritt sein wird, und eine Übergangsprozedur basierend auf dem nachfolgenden Zubereitungsschritt zu ermitteln.
• Eine Steuereinrichtung zur Steuerung der Zubereitung von Heißgetränken basierend auf der Auswahl, die dazu ausgelegt ist, einen aktuellen Zubereitungsschritt mit der ermittelten Übergangsprozedur zu beenden.

A hot beverage machine according to the invention comprises the following components:

• A selection unit designed for the user to select and specify a type of hot beverage.
• A determination unit which is designed to determine, based on the selection, before or during a current preparation step, which will be the subsequent preparation step, and to determine a transition procedure based on the subsequent preparation step.
• A control device for controlling the preparation of hot beverages based on the selection, which is designed to end a current preparation step with the determined transition procedure.

The hot beverage machine preferably comprises a data memory which contains data on a number of transition procedures with predetermined parameters. In addition, the data memory can include predetermined parameter values for a number of the transition procedures. This has the advantage that the transitional procedures can be integrated very easily into the beverage preparation process.

The hot drinks machine preferably comprises a computing unit, e.g. a processor which is designed to determine a transition procedure as a function of a current preparation step and a subsequent preparation step. Depending on the type of embodiment, the computing unit is preferably designed to dynamically adapt parameter values of the determined transition procedure as a function of measured values from sensors of the hot drinks machine. In particular, the computing unit is designed for an adaptation, as has been described above in the context of the method. For this purpose, the computing unit can preferably determine which parameter values must be present at the beginning of the subsequent preparation step and which states exist at the end of a current preparation step. The parameter values are then calculated in such a way that the transition procedure converts the final status of the current preparation step into the start requirements of the subsequent preparation step. This has the advantage that optimal starting conditions for the subsequent preparation step can be created automatically.

The hot beverage machine is preferably a coffee machine, in particular with a flow heater, and is designed to carry out a method according to the invention.

Advantages of the invention are that a higher process stability can be achieved, in particular with regard to filling quantities and temperature, a more stable coffee quality is achieved over a series of brews, energy is saved and faster dispensing times are still possible and, last but not least, protection of components, such as the brewing unit or the central unit.

Figur 1:

Ein schematisches Beispiel für einen Heißgetränkeautomaten.

Figur 2:

Ein Blockschaltbild zum Ablauf eines erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens,

Figur 3:

Ein Beispiel für einen Verlauf der Temperatur während der Zubereitung eines Heißgetränks.

Figur 4:

Ein weiteres Beispiel für einen Verlauf der Temperatur während der Zubereitung eines Heißgetränks.

The principle of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing by way of example. In the drawing show:

Figure 1:

A schematic example of a hot drinks machine.

Figure 2:

A block diagram for the sequence of a method according to the invention,

Figure 3:

An example of a temperature profile during the preparation of a hot drink.

Figure 4:

Another example of a temperature profile during the preparation of a hot beverage.

• Eine Brüheinheit 2, in die zur Zubereitung Kaffeepulver gegeben wird, welches ggf. mittels eines hier nicht dargestellten Mahlwerks gemahlen wird.
• Einen Durchlauferhitzer als Heizelement 4 zum Aufheizen von Wasser,
• Eine Pumpe 3, durch die Wasser aus einem Wassertank 5 durch den Durchlauferhitzer hindurch in die Brüheinheit 2 gepumpt wird.
• Eine Auswahleinheit 6 zur bedienerseitigen manuellen Auswahl und Angabe eines gewünschten Heißgetränketyps H.
• Eine Steuereinrichtung 7 ausgelegt zur Steuerung der Zubereitung eines Kaffeegetränks des ausgewählten Heißgetränketyps H durch den Heißgetränkeautomaten 1.
• Eine Datenschnittstelle 8 zur Herstellung eines Datenkontakts mit der Auswahleinheit 6. Dadurch können Daten zur Auswahl des Heißgetränketyps H an eine Recheneinheit 9 weitergegeben werden. Der Pfeil von der Auswahleinheit 6 zur Datenschnittstelle 8 soll dabei die Richtung des Datenflusses andeuten. Diese Datenschnittstelle 8 ist dabei auch zum Senden von Steuerdaten (s. zweiter Pfeil) an eine Steuereinrichtung 7 zur Steuerung einer Zubereitung eines Kaffeegetränks des ausgewählten Heißgetränketyps H durch den Heißgetränkeautomaten 1 ausgelegt.
• Die Recheneinheit 9 ausgelegt zur Berechnung von Steuerdaten für die Steuereinrichtung 7.
• Einen Datenspeicher 10 zur Speicherung von vorgegebenen Übergangsprozeduren P, die von der Recheneinheit abgerufen werden können. Die Übergangsprozeduren P können völlig festgelegte Abläufe darstellen, sie können aber auch nur einen zeitlichen Ablauf mit Änderungen von Parametern darstellen, deren Werte dynamisch gemäß Messwerten von Sensoren des Heißgetränkeautomaten angepasst werden. Beispielsweise kann eine Übergangsprozedur P einfach eine Temperaturänderung von einer aktuell gemessenen Temperatur auf eine vorgegebenen Zieltemperatur darstellen. Sie kann aber auch weitere Parameter wie z.B. zur Pumpleistung, zu Ventilstellungen oder ähnlichem umfassen.

Figure 1 shows an example of a hot beverage machine 1 a fully automatic coffee machine. In addition to other units required to prepare coffee, it includes the following components in particular:

• A brewing unit 2, into which coffee powder is added for preparation, which is possibly ground by means of a grinder, not shown here.
• A water heater as a heating element 4 for heating water,
• A pump 3, by means of which water is pumped from a water tank 5 through the flow heater into the brewing unit 2.
• A selection unit 6 for the manual selection and specification of a desired type of hot beverage H.
• A control device 7 designed to control the preparation of a coffee beverage of the selected hot beverage type H by the hot beverage machine 1.
• A data interface 8 for establishing data contact with the selection unit 6. As a result, data for the selection of the hot beverage type H can be passed on to a computing unit 9. The arrow from the selection unit 6 to the data interface 8 is intended to indicate the direction of the data flow. This data interface 8 is also for sending control data (see second arrow) to a control device 7 for controlling a Preparation of a coffee beverage of the selected hot beverage type H by the hot beverage machine 1 designed.
• The computing unit 9 is designed to compute control data for the control device 7.
• A data memory 10 for storing predetermined transition procedures P which can be called up by the processing unit. The transition procedures P can represent completely defined processes, but they can also represent only a temporal process with changes in parameters, the values of which are dynamically adapted according to measured values from sensors of the hot beverage machine. For example, a transition procedure P can simply represent a change in temperature from a currently measured temperature to a predetermined target temperature. However, it can also include other parameters, such as, for example, the pump output, valve positions or the like.

To prepare a coffee drink, water is pumped from the water tank 5 by means of the pump 3 through the heating element 4, heated there and, when hot, reaches the brewing unit 2 in which there is coffee powder. This process is controlled by the processing unit 9 via the data interface 8 in the manner described below:
Figure 2 shows a block diagram for the sequence of a method according to the invention for controlling the hot drinks machine 1 ( Figure 1 ).

In step I the user selects a hot beverage type H, e.g. by means of selection buttons on the hot drinks machine 4. It sets the starting point of the method according to the invention.

In step II, the sequence and type of preparation steps Z1, Z2 required to prepare a selected hot beverage are determined, preparation steps Z2 of known subsequent preparations preferably also being determined, e.g. when it is known that two espressos should be brewed one after the other.

In step III, a transition procedure P is determined which optimally the transition between the current preparation step Z1 and the subsequent preparation step Z2 designed. This transition procedure P can here, for example, be selected from a predetermined set of transition procedures P as a function of the temperatures at the end of the current preparation step Z1 and the required temperature at the beginning of the subsequent preparation step Z2. The transition procedure P can, however, also be calculated dynamically based on the aforementioned temperatures. For example, it can be calculated how long the heating element would have to run so that the temperature of the water can be heated to the temperature subsequently required.

In step IV, the hot beverage is prepared by inserting the transition procedure P between the preparation steps Z1, Z2. This can only be done with two preparation steps Z1, Z2, but it can also be done several times within one preparation.

Figure 3 shows an example of a profile of the temperature during the preparation of a hot beverage in the form of a temperature curve T of the water. The dash-dotted lines limit a time period t1, which lies between two preparation steps Z1, Z2. Before the time period t1, water was heated at the end of a first preparation step Z1, but would have to have a higher temperature at the beginning of the second preparation step Z2. Unfortunately nothing happens here (state of the art) and the water cools down, which can be seen in the falling temperature curve in the period t1. Possibly also water evaporates from the line from the heating element 4 to the brewing unit 2. The dashed line represents a temperature profile which could be achieved by means of a transition procedure P within the scope of the invention. The transition procedure P may also include pumping a certain amount of water so that evaporated water could be replaced. Thus, the hot beverage machine would be in a defined state again before preparation step Z2.

Figure 4 shows another example of a profile of the temperature during the preparation of a hot drink in the form of a temperature curve T of the water and a heating power curve Q (dashed). You can see part of the preparation, during which the hot drink is filled into a cup (area marked with a dot-dash line). During the filling process, the heating output is initially high, but after a while it drops off and then drops to zero. This happens while the hot beverage is being filled into the cup, as the necessary heat can be extracted from the system and this no longer necessarily has to be added. This Heater-Early-Off-Time Δt, i.e. the time of an early one Switching off the heating element can be optimally adapted to the subsequent preparation step Z2 by means of a transition procedure P, for example by adapting the strength of the heating power or the length of time of the application of heat energy). It should be noted that the fluctuations in the temperature curve are influenced by the pumping of the water. If a lot of water flows, the temperature can drop despite high heating output, if the water flows slowly, it can warm up due to residual heat in the system despite low heating output.

Since the embodiment described in detail above is an example, it can be modified in the usual way by a person skilled in the art to a wide extent without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the specific embodiments can also follow in a form other than that described here. Likewise, the hot beverage machine can be designed in a different form if this is necessary for reasons of space or design. For example, in addition to coffee, it can also produce hot water or steam. Furthermore, the use of the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude the possibility that the relevant features can also be present several times or more than once.

List of reference symbols

1

Hot drinks machine

2

Brewing chamber

3

pump

4th

Heating element

5

Water tank

6th

Selection unit

7th

Control device

8th

Data interface

9

Arithmetic unit

10

Data storage

H

Hot beverage type

P

Transitional procedure

Q

Heating output curve

T

Temperature curve

t1

Period

Δt

"Heater Early Off Time"

Z1, Z2

Preparation step

Claims (10)

Method for controlling a hot drinks machine (1), comprising the steps: - Selection of a hot beverage type (H), - preparation of a hot drink based on this selection, wherein before or during a current preparation step (Z1) it is determined based on the selection which the subsequent preparation step (Z2) will be and the current preparation step (Z1) is ended with a transition procedure (P) based on the subsequent preparation step (Z2 ) is determined. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the transition procedure (P) comprises a number of method steps for changing parameter values of parameters for controlling the hot beverage machine (H), the parameter values of these parameters being predetermined or dynamic based on the subsequent preparation step and / or are calculated based on measured values from sensors of the hot beverage machine (1),
wherein the transition procedure (P) is preferably selected from a number of transition procedures (P) with predetermined sequences of changes in parameter values. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a transition procedure (P) parameters of the group temperature, output of a heating element, output of a pump, delivery volume of a liquid, valve positions, position of a mechanical switching element, control of movement elements, "Heater-Early-Off -Time "and measurement requirements from sensors. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that transition procedures (P) are available for successive preparation steps (Z1, Z2), - which different brewing steps and / or - a brewing step followed by hot water or steam preparation and / or - hot water or steam preparation followed by a brewing step and / or - the completion of a preparation represent. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a transition procedure (P) comprises parameter values for controlling a mechanical switching element, in particular a gearwheel, which is controlled to carry out mechanical and / or electrical switching processes in the hot beverage machine (1). Hot drinks machine (1), comprising: - A selection unit (6) designed for the user to select a type of hot beverage (H), - A determination unit, which is designed to determine, before or during a current preparation step (Z1) based on the selection, which the subsequent preparation step (Z2) will be, and a transition procedure (P) based on the subsequent preparation step (Z2) determine, - A control device (7) designed to control the preparation of hot beverages based on the selection, which is designed to end a current preparation step (Z1) with the determined transition procedure. Hot drinks machine (1) according to Claim 6, characterized by a data memory (10) which contains data on a number of transition procedures (P) with predetermined parameters and preferably predetermined parameter values for a number of these transition procedures (P). Hot drinks machine (1) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized by a computing unit (9) which is designed to determine a transition procedure (P) as a function of a current preparation step (Z1) and a subsequent preparation step (Z2) and preferably parameter values of the dynamically adapt the determined transition procedure depending on measured values from sensors of the hot drinks machine (1). Hot drinks machine (1), characterized in that it is designed to carry out a method according to one of Claims 1 to 5. Hot beverage machine (1), characterized in that it is designed as a fully automatic coffee machine with a flow heater.

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